Makchang and gopchang-fat fried rice in Geomdan, Incheon: Hwang Gop

There are autumn evenings when a sudden craving for gopchang (grilled beef intestine) hits you — that nutty, chewy flavor you just can't shake. So today I went looking for a real gopchang spot near Ara Station in Geomdan New Town.

Exploring somewhere new is always exciting, and this Geomdan gopchang restaurant totally exceeded my expectations.

Where is Hwang Gop Geomdan New Town Branch, and what are its hours?

Hwang Gop Geomdan New Town Branch is a gopchang restaurant at 420 Ieum 1-ro, Sangga-dong 1F Unit 9, Geomdan-gu, Incheon. It's 673m from Ara Station Exit 1, about a 10-minute walk, and open from 3 PM to midnight.

• 📍 Address 420 Ieum 1-ro, Sangga-dong 1F Unit 9, Geomdan-gu, Incheon, South Korea
• 🚇 Location 673m from Ara Station Exit 1, about a 10-minute walk
• 🕒 Hours 3 PM – midnight
• 🥤 Sign up for coupon alerts for a free drink
• ✅ Group dining, takeout, delivery, and reservations available
• ☑️ Parking available at the LH26 complex front shopping center lot

Inside Hwang Gop: a grill house tucked into a Geomdan residential block

Hwang Gop Geomdan New Town Branch sits in a residential area rather than the main dining strip of Geomdan New Town — it's the kind of place I want to keep to myself, haha! Even off the main drag, it's on a street with plenty of foot traffic, so customers kept streaming in.

Stepping inside, the bright, clean atmosphere immediately made a great first impression for a Geomdan gopchang restaurant. You usually picture gopchang places as a bit rundown or noisy, but this one felt as tidy as a café — I loved it from the start.

The tables were also spaced generously apart, so we could eat comfortably without worrying about the neighboring table — a big plus.

Free side dishes, mukbap and domestic yukhoe at Hwang Gop

The basic side dishes come with a refreshing mukbap (chilled acorn jelly soup) as a standard setting. Mukbap is hard to make at home, so having it alongside gopchang, with its cold, icy broth, really helped cut through the richness in between bites^^

Another thing I loved was that domestic yukhoe (Korean-style beef tartare) comes free with the meal. Yukhoe as a complimentary dish at a gopchang restaurant?! Isn't that amazing?

I assumed a free side dish would mean imported beef, but it was domestic yukhoe! Sweet and savory — a real treat!

Self-serve bar: green onion kimchi and aged kimchi

The self-serve bar at Hwang Gop has the basic side dishes neatly arranged, and you can freely go back for more without feeling awkward when they run low. Go back for seconds and thirds of the green onion kimchi and aged kimchi — they're genuinely delicious! They're the perfect side to cut through the richness of the mixed gopchang platter.

The garlic-chili soy sauce is also sweet and savory and pairs really well. Thanks to these thoughtful touches, the meal felt even more satisfying. The atmosphere wasn't too loud or chaotic, which made it feel classier than your typical gopchang joint!

How do the gopchang, makchang and daechang on the mixed platter taste?

Looking over the menu at our table, we ordered the 'mixed platter' without much hesitation — a chance to try gopchang, makchang, daechang and more all at once. Not long after ordering, a gorgeous-looking mixed platter arrived on our table.

Watching the gopchang, makchang and daechang sizzle away on the grill already had my mouth watering.

The makchang was so incredibly chewy and delicious ㅠㅠㅠ Not tough or rubbery at all — how can makchang be this thick and yet this tender? Ugh, I want more already,,,ㅠㅠ

You could immediately tell Hwang Gop Geomdan New Town Branch uses fresh ingredients. The gopchang, yeomtong (beef heart), and daechang were all crispy on the outside and chewy inside — such a fun texture to chew through. That distinctive nutty aroma kept pulling me back for more. It's easily good enough to be called the best makchang spot in Geomdan New Town.

The daechang, in particular, melted in my mouth with a soft texture and rich, fatty flavor that came together beautifully. It could've been a bit heavy, but paired with the chive salad and pickled onions on the side, there was no greasiness at all.

Dining with kids? Add the samgyeop-yangji at Hwang Gop

We ordered an extra serving each of makchang and samgyeop-yangji haha. The kids really dug into the samgyeop-yangji. It wasn't too fatty, so there wasn't much to trim off, and they gave us a generous amount of rice too! So the kids ate their fill happily.

Thanks to quality ingredients and skilled grilling, everything was clean, free of any off smell, and genuinely delicious.

The fried rice we ordered on top of everything was another treat not to be missed — fried in savory gopchang fat for extra depth, it made for a hearty, satisfying finish.

Is Hwang Gop near Ara Station worth a second visit?

It's been a while since I had truly great gopchang near Ara Station, and it put me in a really good mood. If you're looking for a gopchang restaurant in Geomdan New Town, I'd recommend this one.

Clean interior, friendly service, and above all, fresh, delicious gopchang, makchang and daechang — everything about this place was on point. I'm planning to come back soon to try other menu items. If you're looking for a great gopchang restaurant in Geomdan, this will be a choice you won't regret.